By Akinwale Kasali
After years of investigation and interrogation, the Police has finally found a,former Deputy Governor of Akwa Ibom State and one-time Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Nsima Ekere, innocent of alleged conspiracy, diversion, and stealing of the sum of N118 million leveled against him.
Nsima was exonerated by the Nigeria Police alongside others that include; Messrs Techsel Products Limited, Mr. Idorenyin Udo Ekere, Dr. Aniekan Udo Ekere and Utibe Idorenyin Ekere.
The affected persons were, between 2011 and 2014, accused by one Abasiama Idong of defrauding Akwa Savings & Loans Limited to the tune of N118m.
The case, which was widely reported in the media in 2017, was also dragged before anti graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crime Commission, EFCC.
The Certified True Copy, CTC, of the police investigation report signed by an Assistant Commissioner of Police from the Force Criminal Investigation Department, Ibrahim Abdul in Uyo on Friday, saw the police stating that in the course of their investigation, it was gathered that the alleged missing of N118m against Mr. Nsima Ekere was actually a request made by Lossela Nigeria Ltd out of its deposit of two million, five hundred thousand US Dollars in Akwa Savings & loans Limited, which was approved by the then Managing Director, Mr. Effiong Akwa Okon with full knowledge that Lossela Ltd had more than enough to accommodate the transaction.
The police report further stated, “That Mr. Nsima Ekere did not authorize any payment nor close any Akwa Ibom State Government account with Akwa Saving and Loans Ltd as he had no role to play in the bank.
“That Lossela Nigeria Limited has a business relationship with Techsel Products Ltd.
“That Lossela Nigeria Limited deposited $2,500,000 US Dollars with Akwa Savings and Loans Limited. That the money was transferred through Sterling Bank where Lossela maintained a domiciliary account.
“That Lossela Nigeria Limited sometimes in 2013 requested for the payment of one hundred million naira (N100,000,000) only from their US Dollars deposit with Akwa Savings and Loans Limited. That the money was credited into Techsel Products Ltd account with Akwa Savings and Loan Ltd based on a written instruction from Lossela Nigeria Ltd.
“That there was no visible illegal transaction between the suspects, “Techsel Products Nigeria Ltd” and Lossela Nigeria Ltd” as alleged.
“That the petition is a calculated attempt to smear and ridicule the political ambition of Mr. Nsima Ekere, who is also a former MD of NDDC.”
The police further noted that based on the facts gathered in their findings, a prima facie case of conspiracy, forgery, and stealing cannot be established against Mr. Nsima Ekere, MessrsTechsel Products Limited, Mr. Idorenyin Udo Ekere, and Dr. Aniekan Udo Ekere as alleged.
